PURPOSE

ACTIVITIES
Cultural
Educational and Religious
Human Services
Economic Affairs
Public Affairs

STRUCTURE

PUBLICATIONS
CONTACT

PURPOSE

The Lithuanian American Community, Inc. (LAC, Inc.) is a nonprofit community-based organization providing educational, cultural, and social services to our membership. Serving the interests of approximately 800,000 Americans of Lithuanian descent, LAC, Inc. is in the forefront of supporting the growth of democratic institutions and economic, as well as social reform in the Republic of Lithuania.

ACTIVITIES

Since its founding in 1951, LAC, Inc. has sponsored a wide variety of activities. Members participate in programs both within their local chapters as well as in nation-wide events organized in six areas of interest: cultural, educational and religious, human services, economic, and public affairs.

Cultural
LAC, Inc. promotes and fosters Lithuanian culture and traditions through regular sponsorship of specific events, such as folk danoe, music, song and theater festivals and concerts, arts and science symposiums. LAC, Inc. also publishes books about Lithuania's cultural heritage and generally seeks to support cultural interaction between the Unfted States and Lithuania.

Educational and Religious
LAC, Inc. has been instrumental in keeping the Lithuanian heritage and its religious traditions alive in the U.S. through its network of Lithuanian Heritage and Language Schools, which provide classes to LithuanianAmericans of all ages. Educational programs are designed, instructional materials are published, and teachers are prepared to meet the continuously changing environmental demands.

Human Services
The Human Services Council of LAC, Inc. provides specialized services to senior citizens and individuals of Lithuanian descent requiring assistance. These services include social, informational, legal aid, medical, as well as case-unique aid to individuals and/or families in need. The Council operates two service centers and publishes Pensininkas, a magazine for senior citizens as well as informational columns in Lithuanian media.

With the reestablishment of independence, the Council has expanded its scope to provide aid to the people of Lithuania by establishing a series of ongoing projects via its subsidiaries: Lithuanian Children's Hope provides specialized orthopedic care and treatment for Lithuania's children; Lithuanian Orphan Care allows LAC, Inc. members to sponsor a foster child in Lithuania; Lithuanian Freedom Fighters Fund provides aid to Lithuanian freedom fighters of advanced age who have suffered from the Soviet Union occupation and persecution.

Economic Affairs
The LAC, Inc. Economic Affairs Council actively promotes business with and investment in Lithuania. In this respect, the Council sponsors conferences and trade shows, both in the U.S. and Lithuania, for potential investors and businesses. Working through the U.S. government Baltic American Enterprise Fund, the Council actively seeks to establish business partnerships between the U.S. and Lithuanian companies. The Council also publishes a weekly column in the Lithuanian press providing up-to-date information regarding economic changes taking place in Lithuania.

Public Affairs
Since its inception, LAC, Inc. has worked to support the independence of Lithuania by providing required assistance to Lithuania's democratic movement and championing a variety of projects pre and post the declaration of independence. Currently, the emphasis has shifted to developing and supporting Lithuania's democracy and changing economy. Such issues as the expansion of NATO to include Lithuania, the demilitarization of the Kaliningrad territory and foreign aid remain of vital concern to LAC.

LAC, lnc.'s main office is near Washington D.C. This office provides information on Lithuanian affairs to the media, Congress, agencies of the U.S. government, foundations and interested private sector organizations and persons.

STRUCTURE

The membership of LAC, Inc. includes all individuals of Lithuanian descent. Activities are carried out through 69 local chapters headquartered in 30 states and the District of Columbia; organized into 9 geographical districts. The policy making body, the highest authority, is the LAC, Inc. National Board that is elected every three years by the membership. The LAC, INC. National Executive Committee that is elected by the National Board for a three-year term, runs the organization.

PUBLICATIONS

Through LAC, Inc. sponsored publications - the English language magazine Bridges and the quarterly journal of art and science Lituanus; the Lithuanian language children's magazine Eglute and the senior citizens magazine Pensininkas - LAC, Inc. keeps its membership informed of all activities and events relevant to individuals of all walks of life with what is going on both here in the U.S. and Lithuania.

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